Urban Music Conference Planned for Zimbabwe, December 16 - 18, 2011

July 30, 2011 - PRLog -- The conference from December 16 to 18, 2011 seeks to engage issues that try to define and locate “new” urban music forms within an identity matrix by exploring the following dynamics: global versus local, tradition versus innovation, culture versus creativity, and society versus commerce, from different perspectives and disciplines.

While exploring these dynamics, we will incorporate into the presentations these and other themes:

•   Impact of new media and technology
•   Music and gender
•   Genealogies and influences
•   Globalization, citizenship, and identity  
•   Entrepreneurship: music branding and management
•   Music use in national spheres
•   Music, social intervention, and advocacy
•   Culture endangerment, preservation, and documentation
•   The agency of language
•   Intellectual and property rights in the digital age
•   Cultural interchange
•   Music and fashion
•   Music and dance

The organizers invite contributions to the conference program from scholars, commentators, critics, artists, and others from all over the world. Papers should be designed for 20 minutes long presentations and workshops for 2 hour long sessions.

Please submit the following information:

•   Title of proposed paper or workshop
•   Abstract that does not exceed 250 words. The abstract should include the paper’s argument or workshop’s description and theoretical framework
•   Brief biography of 200 words or less
•   A/V needs
•   Full contact information (email address, mailing address, primary telephone
number, and institutional affiliation)

Artists or their managers should indicate their desire to be considered to perform at the conference by submitting the following information:

•   Artist’s name and brief biography of 200 words or less
•   Link to their music or videos online
•   Full contact information (email address, mailing address, and primary telephone
number)

Deadline for submission of abstracts and performance requests: August 30, 2011.

Notification of acceptance: September 7, 2011 (September 30 for artists).

Conference: December 16-18, 2011.

Submit the above materials and/or questions regarding the conference to the conference convener, Dr. Wonderful Bere, at wonderful@panafricanperformance.org.

For more information and conference updates visit www.panafricanperformance.org.

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The Pan African Performance Program is a cultural and educational organization facilitating the research and teaching of African and Pan African performance forms and promoting greater understanding of the cultures originating from Africa. It, thus, serves as a forum for generating greater intercultural understanding and global diversity